I need a master to begin an apprenticeship with me

I don't live around your area but I have experience both as a Blacksmith and in stock removal. I would be willing to speak with you and get you headed in the right direction.
Kwilson82606@yahoo.com if your interested.

Thanks
 
That is a kind offer, but make sure you speak with his parents first.

When I have a situation like this, after the initial email, I have the parent call me on my cell and talk to them about the boy first.
 
I started making my first knife at 14 and was self taught for many years. There were no forums back then (there was no internet back in 1980) and there was very little information available. Read a lot, read the stickies, if something doesn't seem to make sense ask questions. Good luck!

-Page
 
bladsmth said:
That is a kind offer, but make sure you speak with his parents first.
When I have a situation like this, after the initial email, I have the parent call me on my cell and talk to them about the boy first.
Click to expand...
As a high school teacher, I wholeheartedly concur. It is prudent to confirm a few "things" to assure effective learning. If more than one is missing, especially parental support, the learning venture is likely to be fraught with difficulties.

  1. Student motivation (√)
  2. Student character, discipline and behavior (unknown)
  3. Student capacities and resources (unknown)
  4. Parental support, capacities and resources (unknown)
  5. Student/teacher compatibility (unknown)
  1. ...seems in place, or is at least self proclaimed.
  2. ...is completely unknown; and, has great bearing on all the other aspects, particularly #5.
  3. ...is completely unknown (handwork skills?, tools?, shop space?, time?, etc?) other than having about $200 for the venture.
  4. ...is completely unknown and very important to have in place, especially re safety issues!
  5. ...is determined mostly by the teacher. (Being good at a thing isn't necessarily the same as being good at teaching it, particularly to a youngster.)

All this can be resolved simply by meeting each other (student, teacher, parents)! Without it, it's a crap shoot. Good luck Pubathedog (name unknown); all the best!
 
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bladsmth said:
That is a kind offer, but make sure you speak with his parents first.

When I have a situation like this, after the initial email, I have the parent call me on my cell and talk to them about the boy first.
Click to expand...

I had already planned on it. I just recently helped out another young man and I also agree that there are certain topics that need to be touched on first.

Thanks.
 
Very good advice Phil:
Many kids come to visit the shops of knife makers. If they come motivation is usually assured.
But: do their parents know?
What are your liabilities? Both criminal and civil?

Runaways may come to you with all the motivation and potential ability you could ask for. Good kids! But it is not as simple as it was when I was a kid, I was just lucky to find teachers who knew what they were doing and welcomed me.

I fear those days are gone and it is not the fault of the teachers.
 
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